LGBTQ+ Mental Health Through the Lifespan

Although substantial progress has been made pertaining to LGBTQ+ rights over the past decade, there is still a great deal of work that needs to be done in order to continue normalizing diversity in gender and sexual minority individuals.

While young people in many states are beginning to come out and be more confident earlier in life, many youth are still struggling to find secure housing, gain and maintain employment, have family support, and sustain safety. LGBTQ+ older adults are oftentimes marginalized in society, struggling to find supportive communities and medical providers who understand the intersectionality of their identities.

These are just a few of the hurdles LGBTQ+ individuals may be faced with throughout their lives. Due to these challenges and the lack of appropriate support and resources, many LGBTQ+ individuals are more vulnerable to experiencing mental health challenges.

In this workshop, Jordan Held, LCSW (he/him) and Beck Gee-Cohen, MA (he/him) will discuss how clinicians, as well as family, friends, and community members, can be an integral part of creating spaces of healing and safety for LGBTQ+ individuals of all ages through increased education, visibility, and awareness.